Denny Hamlin paid tribute to his former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, following his win at Michigan Worldwide Speedway, by holding a black No. 18 flag out the window of his automotive as he burned out his tires.
Hamlin tied Busch for ninth on the all-time win record within the NASCAR Cup Sequence on Sunday along with his victory within the FireKeepers On line casino 400.
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“In truth, I needed to outlive him to tie him,” Hamlin instructed reporters following the race. “He was a tremendous teammate. He taught me a lot at tracks like this. I simply can’t say sufficient.”
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Nationwide Debt Aid Toyota, waves an 18 – 8 flag in honor of the late Kyle Busch after profitable the NASCAR Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway on June 07, 2026. Getty Pictures
The NASCAR driver stated there was a little bit of coordination to work by way of so as to pay tribute to Busch resulting from sure emblems.
NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Denny Hamlin (11) drives with a flag after his victory on the FireKeepers On line casino 400 at Michigan Worldwide Speedway. Paul Barnick-Imagn Pictures
“I simply wished to pay my respects to somebody that I actually did look as much as and taught me a lot as a teammate,” “There’s nothing we will say or do this’s gonna make his household really feel higher, however at the very least throughout that little time you may pay him the respects that he deserves.”
Busch died on Might 21 “into sepsis, leading to speedy and overwhelming related problems,” his household introduced following his dying.
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The NASCAR nice had been found unresponsive whereas testing a racing simulator in Harmony, N.C., on Might 20 and was taken to a hospital in Charlotte.
Busch’s dying surprised the NASCAR group and his household, and he left behind a spouse, Samantha, and two youngsters, Brexton and Lennix.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Nationwide Debt Aid Toyota, waves an 18 – 8 flag in honor of the late Kyle Busch after profitable the NASCAR Cup Sequence FireKeepers On line casino 400. Getty Pictures
Kyle Busch waits for the beginning of a NASCAR Xfinity Sequence auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021. AP Photograph/Mark Humphrey
Samantha since Busch’s dying in an Instagram submit on Friday, thanking everybody who has supported her and her household.
“From household and associates to followers and full strangers, thanks for exhibiting up for us,” Samantha wrote in her assertion. “Thanks for loving our household so properly. Thanks for loving Kyle. Thanks for honoring him. We could by no means discover the phrases to totally specific what your assist has meant to us, however please know that we’re deeply grateful,” she wrote.
